The Archive will remain open until 12 noon on Tuesday 23 December 2025 and will reopen at 10am on Friday 2 January 2026.
Wishing all our members, readers, researchers, visitors and supporters a peaceful Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.
These Nativity figures were created in 1964 by artists Fergus O’Farrell (1918-2008) for Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church, Dublin Airport. They were banned that same year by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid. The Archbishop ordered the removal of Farrell’s crib from the church due to the modernist, non-representational nature of the carved figures, intervening despite the fact that both the then-new church and the crib were paid for by staff and management of the airport. The original figures were subsequently lost but were remade by Raymond Griffin in 2025 for Dreamtime Ireland, and are on loan to the IAA from Askeaton Contemporary Arts for the 2025 Christmas season.
Christmas Opening Hours
The Archive will remain open until 12 noon on Tuesday 23 December 2025 and will reopen at 10am on Friday 2 January 2026.
Wishing all our members, readers, researchers, visitors and supporters a peaceful Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.
These Nativity figures were created in 1964 by artists Fergus O’Farrell (1918-2008) for Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church, Dublin Airport. They were banned that same year by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid. The Archbishop ordered the removal of Farrell’s crib from the church due to the modernist, non-representational nature of the carved figures, intervening despite the fact that both the then-new church and the crib were paid for by staff and management of the airport. The original figures were subsequently lost but were remade by Raymond Griffin in 2025 for Dreamtime Ireland, and are on loan to the IAA from Askeaton Contemporary Arts for the 2025 Christmas season.
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There will be very limited public access to the IAA reading room and exhibition spaces on Tuesday 12 May, Wednesday 13 May and Friday 15 May 2026. There will be NO public access on Thursday 14 May 2026.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Large or small, every donation helps secure the future of the collection. We are truly grateful for your support.
Large or small, every donation helps secure the future of the collection. We are truly grateful for your support.
